Tracy Press

Delta Charter’s debate team made it to a state contest, and one student will head to nationals. By Danielle MacMurchy

Glenn Moore/Tracy Press - orator:Delta Charter High School senior Caitlin Sarvey runs through her speech on current world affairs in preparation for the national speech and debate competition in Kansas.

There’s no debate about it — Delta Charter High School students are naturals.

The school’s first speech and debate team competed in 12 tournaments this year and will be represented at the national competition in June after a successful qualifying tournament in Concord this weekend.

The school’s parliamentary team qualified for the state contest, and senior Caitlin Sarvey qualified to compete in the national speech and debate competition in Kansas.

Sarvey, who frequents New York Times, CNN and National Public Radio Web sites, said she had to prepare for judges who could ask for a speech on nearly any current event. She presented speeches on the Argentine government, the war in Iraq and the European Union.

“I used to be shy,” Sarvey said. “This team has given me confidence to speak my opinion.”

She’s applied to several colleges, including University of Pacific and California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. She plans to pursue a degree in communications and possibly a career as a political writer.

The students weren’t the only ones to come home with honors.

Coach Reed Niemi was named diamond key coach by the National Forensic League because the Delta Charter team earned 1,502 points between fall and February. Points are earned by how well a team does in the number of tournaments in which it competes. Niemi will be recognized at the national tournament.

Twenty-eight freshmen through senior students compete, out of the school’s 250 students. They meet every Friday to practice and quiz each other and learn speech and debate techniques.

Niemi, who competed in speech at the high school and college levels in addition to 16 years of coaching, chooses a random topic, and students quickly look through archived articles to prepare a speech.

Students compete in 12 speech categories, including impromptu speaking, dramatic interpretation and oratorical interpretation. The school’s debate teams compete in four categories, including parliamentary debate and congress. Each category refers to the style of debate.

When Niemi launched the school’s speech and debate team in the fall, he never anticipated the young team would be represented at nationals.

“I just hoped for some participation,” he said. “Every student has something to say, you just need to give them a platform and a little confidence.”

He credits the team’s success to the financial and emotional support of school administration.

“Our students have a tremendous amount of intellect and talent,” Delta Charter Director Stephanie Lytle said. “This is a form that they can utilize it.”

The team will compete again April 14 at the congress speech and debate tournament in Fullerton.

To contact reporter Danielle MacMurchy, call 830-4221 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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written by Parent , April 03, 2007

Too bad West and Tracy do not have programs!

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written by care , April 04, 2007

Let's hear it for cogent logic succinctly expressed. Is this needed in our age.

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written by melinda meyer , April 01, 2008

?Why such a small school? ?Why do the larger schools seem less capable?